Who I Am
Hello Taranaki started as a conversation between mates at a pub in New Plymouth. I was sitting around on a Friday night, phone in hand, trying to figure out which offshore sportsbook had the best odds for the Chiefs game. Everyone had a different opinion, nobody had tested them properly, and we were all just guessing. That conversation sparked an idea: what if I actually did the homework?
So that's exactly what I did. I'm Matt Kingi — a Kiwi sports fanatic and recreational punter who got tired of half-baked recommendations and recycled marketing copy. I wanted real, independent testing — depositing actual money, building multis, and timing withdrawals — so that other New Zealanders could make informed decisions about where to bet.
What I Do
I review offshore sportsbooks and betting sites from a specifically New Zealand perspective. That means I care about NZD support, Super Rugby Pacific markets, NRL odds, and whether the live chat actually works at 9 PM on a Saturday when you've got a question about your multi. I don't just read the marketing pages; I sign up, deposit, play, and withdraw. If a site doesn't deliver, I say so.
My reviews are built on a strict methodology. I compare odds against the local TAB, test customer support during peak hours, verify KYC timelines, and time every single withdrawal. I believe Kiwi punters deserve better than the status quo, and I'm here to help you find it.
My Ranking Methodology
Every sportsbook on this site is evaluated across four core pillars: odds competitiveness (benchmarked against the TAB), payout speed and reliability, bonus fairness (I actually read the fine print), and user experience on both desktop and mobile. I weight these factors based on what matters most to the average New Zealand punter, not what earns me the biggest commission.
I also believe in transparency. This site contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission when you sign up through my links. This is how I fund my testing and keep the lights on. However, my rankings are never influenced by commercial relationships. A bad sportsbook is a bad sportsbook, regardless of what they offer me.
About Me
I'm a sports-mad Kiwi based in the Taranaki region. I'm a rugby tragic who's never missed a Chiefs game, and a cricket nerd who stays up until 3 AM watching Black Caps test matches in England. What drives me is a passion for sports, a healthy appreciation for a good punt, and a stubborn insistence on getting the details right.
I'm not a faceless corporation. I'm a punter, just like you. And I reckon that makes all the difference.